Ok, very much a long shot but does anybody know the identity of the Hunter which was displayed in the Harrier OCU hangar in June 1974. This was part of a larger display which included the BBC programme Skywatch and a visit by RCDS.
The Hunter had the 45 Squadron bar followed by the Squadron badge then the 58 Squadron badge and bar on the nose, starboard side. It was displayed as if in flight with blue and white on the floor and supported on jacks with the undercarriage retracted.
By: Steve Bond - 30th January 2013 at 08:56
I was on 233 OCU Line.
By: waghorn41 - 29th January 2013 at 18:16
If she did fly like that, and I suspect she did, it would only have been briefly as we never received her for servicing with the double markings.
I worked in ASF on the Hunter team, where were you Steve?
By: Steve Bond - 29th January 2013 at 14:53
I THINK it did fly very briefly like this after the event.
By: Phantom Phil - 29th January 2013 at 10:07
Steve, my next question is this…. Did this aircraft actually fly in these colours or was she a ‘hangar queen’ that was painted up just for this indoor occasion?
By: Steve Bond - 29th January 2013 at 09:15
Well, with a slide collection that runs into six figures, it’s easier to say what you are looking for!
By: inkworm - 28th January 2013 at 21:15
Lovely photos thanks for sharing them. What other hidden gems are in the slide box Steve?
By: waghorn41 - 28th January 2013 at 20:36
That’s fantastic Steve, just what I needed. I thought the markings were the other way round but looking at your photos I can see now that they added the 58 behind 45’s. Now to build a model of it 🙂
Of course the question as to why I didn’t have a camera – well I understood it was ‘not allowed’. Had to get permission when I was at Northolt a couple of years later even though it had a public viewing area!
By: Phantom Phil - 28th January 2013 at 12:36
Sexy Hunter!
Cheers Steve, much appreciated!!
By: Steve Bond - 28th January 2013 at 10:27
Here you are; the right box of slides was easier to locate than I expected. These were taken on 9 July 1974.
By: Phantom Phil - 28th January 2013 at 10:09
I’d be interested Steve as always fancied modelling this aircraft!!
By: Steve Bond - 28th January 2013 at 10:07
Indeed it was, I have a close-up shot of the dual markings if anyone is interested – it will take a bit of digging out though.
By: Phantom Phil - 27th January 2013 at 22:17
The Hunter in question is Hunter XF431, tail code 62.
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January 27, 2013 at 8:32 pm